Parkinson's Disease and the Role of Occupational Therapy

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative disease; it belongs to a group of disorders which affect the brain. Other group disorders include ALS, MS, Alzheimer's, and Dementia. Movement is normally controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear.

DID YOU KNOW?

Many people notice they lose their sense of smell and taste as they get older. Others observe their handwriting changing and getting smaller. Did you know these could be the early signs of Parkinson's disease, and not just a normal part of aging?

Parkinson's Disease affects over 100,000 Canadians.

Parkinson's can progress at a different rate for each person.

The average age of onset is 60, but Parkinson’s can affect people as young as 30 or 40.